NASBP was saddened to learn of the passing of NASBP Member and activist Richard W. Daiker, age 68, on November 6, 2013 in Heath, TX. He was founder and owner of K&S Insurance Agency (A Member of K & S Group, Inc.) in Rockwall, TX.
Tony Fierro, CIC, a partner of the K & S Insurance Agency, said Richard was a strong proponent of surety and someone who made surety his life’s focus:
Richard started in the surety industry as an underwriter and then in 1978 opened his own agency, the Keystone
General Insurance Agency. By 1998, the agency had become well-established and respected in Texas. The
principals of Keystone General Insurance Agency of Rockwall, Texas; Southwest Assurance Group of
Dallas, Texas; and the Searcey & Daiker Agency of Austin, Texas came together to form K & S Group, Inc.
and the Keystone General Insurance Agency changed its name to the K & S Insurance Agency (A Member of
the K & S Group). In 1999, Richard decided to internally strengthen and organically grow the agency by hiring
and training young producers about the surety business. During the ensuing years, Richard taught the bonding
business to more than 30 additional employees. When I joined the agency as a new producer in 1999, the
agency had 16 employees and K & S Group, Inc. represented four agencies. Today, K & S Insurance Agency
has nearly 50 employees and the K & S Group, Inc. represents more than 15 agencies in the state of Texas.
Throughout his career, Richard remained involved in the agency, helping to maintain the excellent relationships
the agency formed over the years with clients and sureties. He was a mentor to many entry-level producers,
including me, and shared everything he knew about underwriters’ expectations and how sureties pre-qualify
contractors for surety credit. He taught me about the industry, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without
his guidance.
Richard was born January 6, 1945 in Osgood, IN, to William & Mary Ann Daiker. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Indiana. He is survived by his daughter: Terri Daiker & husband Larry Farley; grandsons: Errin Farley and Zachery Daiker, all of Heath, TX; mother: Mary Ann Mulford & husband Donald of Ft. Worth, TX. He was preceded in death by his father: William Daiker. In November, the family held a visitation at the Rest Haven Funeral Home – Rockwall Chapel in Rockwall, TX and a service at the First United Methodist Church also in Rockwall, TX. For more details and to post a condolence message for his family, visit the funeral home’s web site.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 841125, Dallas, TX 75284-1125 or online at AHA web site (www.heart.org) at the AHA memorial contributions page.
